US and Europe accused over sanction (r)

[ausgeo@xxxxxxx]

Subject: US and Europe accused over sanctions 


Friday, May 2, 1997
Sydney Morning Herald
US and Europe accused over sanctions 

By MARK BAKER, Herald Correspondent in Phuket

The Philippines has accused the United States and the European Union of 
adopting dictatorial tactics by imposing sanctions in an attempt to force 
political reforms in Burma.

The Philippine Foreign Minister, Mr Domingo Siazon, said yesterday Western 
countries which sought to punish Burma's military regime were denying the 
democratic principles they claimed to promote.

"It's only when you have a dictatorship that when the other party is not in 
agreement with your opinion you ban them or exclude them from all civil 
society," he said.

In a wide-ranging attack, Mr Siazon also indirectly criticised the Burmese 
democracy leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, for calling for sanctions and regional 
pressure on the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

"It's nothing to do with us. They should settle it there, as we did. We had 
our own peoples' revolution in 1986. We did not ask for any foreign 
intervention," Mr Siazon said, referring to the popular uprising in The 
Philippines which toppled the Marcos regime.

"By asking for foreign intervention, only the people and the poor will suffer, 
not SLORC. So why would you want to punish your own people?"

The US Government last week outlawed new American investment in Burma, while 
the European Union this week extended for six months a package of sanctions, 
including a ban on travel to Europe by Burmese leaders. However, the latest 
uncompromising stance by The Philippines has ruled out any possibility of 
regional support for co-ordinated trade sanctions, or backing for US calls to 
delay Burma's admission to the Association of South East Asian Nations 
(ASEAN).

Other key members of ASEAN - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore - 
have also stated their opposition to sanctions and affirmed their support for 
Burma to be made a full member of the group this year.

After talks with his Thai and Singaporean counterparts, Mr Siazon said 
countries pressuring for democracy in Burma should recognise the right of 
neighbouring countries to disagree with their tactics - and Burma's right to 
determine its own affairs.

"An essential aspect of democracy is that people may differ in opinions but we 
have to respect each others' opinions and continue to be friends," he said. 
"We are exercising our own rights as sovereign countries to take decisions 
about which countries we would like to associate with. Those who are talking 
about human rights, how can they say we will not talk with you any more or 
even meet you at conferences?"

Mr Siazon said ASEAN countries were determined to continue their policy of 
"constructive engagement" - encouraging reform in Burma through closer 
political and economic linkages.

While the policy may fail, the region could not afford to risk political 
turmoil in Burma by isolating the regime.

"Those of us who are neighbours, we have to take the chance. Those who are far 
away, if this particular case should not turn out to be successful, they do 
not really suffer the strategic consequences," he said.

"We are involved, we are very near. You cannot leave Myanmar [Burma] to 
collapse or to have an internal revolution."

He predicted that the US move to impose sanctions on Burma would strain 
Washington's relations with ASEAN. "I think it will be very hard. If the 
imposition of one's view is the norm in international relations, then I'm 
afraid we are going the wrong way."